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Basic BSN

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)

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Prepare for a career as a registered nurse through real-world training and mentorship

Want to become a registered nurse? UW's Basic BSN is an on-campus nursing program for students who want to become registered nurses and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Learning facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms and a Clinical Simulation Center.

For incoming freshmen, the Basic BSN takes four years to complete; transfer students may finish in closer to two-and-a-half years. Learn more about the program below or request info to get in touch!

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Program Details

Tuition and Fees

Please visit our cost of attendance page

Program Requirements

Curriculum & Courses

Department

Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing
College of Health Sciences

About the Basic BSN Program

The University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing boasts a "small school" atmosphere, accepting a maximum of 48 students into the nursing major each year. Students receive plenty of face time with professors in addition to hands-on training in our superb labs and facilities.

While classes are based in Laramie, clinical sites are mainly in Laramie and Cheyenne, with travel being the responsibility of the students. The capstone practicum in the spring semester of the senior year may require a student to travel to and/or live in one of our Wyoming communities for clinical placement.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 or 202-887-8476 has accredited the University of Wyoming's Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing's baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral nursing programs. The University of Wyoming's School of Nursing has a long history of accreditation.

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Students talking outside the College of Health Sciences

Freshman/Non-Freshman Admission to the Nursing Major: This Basic B.S.N. plan includes three semesters of pre-clinical coursework and six semesters (which includes one summer semester) of clinical coursework.

Freshman Admission to the Nursing Major: Students who are graduating from high school (or recent high school graduates) and who have not completed any college credits post-high school (excludes any taken during high school) may apply for Freshman Admission to the Nursing Major to start at UW in the fall semester. Freshmen admitted to the nursing major will begin the clinical component of Basic B.S.N. in the spring semester of the sophomore year. Freshman admits must successfully complete the pre-clinical coursework outlined in the first three semesters of the Basic B.S.N. Program of Study by the end of the sophomore fall semester.

Non-Freshman Admission to the Nursing Major: Students not offered freshman admission to the nursing major (e.g. Basic B.S.N. Pre-Nursing students, transfer students, and other majors) who are completing the pre-clinical courses may apply for any unfilled seats in the clinical component of the nursing major through non-freshman admission. Non-freshman admission is a competitive process, and the number of unfilled seats may be very limited. Completion of pre-clinical courses is required by the end of the fall semester prior to the spring in which seeking non-freshman admission.

  1. Minimize the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
  2. Advance nursing practice related to patient care technologies, information systems and communication devices that support safe nursing practice.
  3. Achieve optimal individual, family, group, community and population outcomes guided by clinical reasoning and appraisal of evidence of best practice.
  4. Demonstrate effective leadership through heightened self-awareness to empower others in the attainment of optimal patient outcomes.
  5. Use mutually respectful communication, collaboration and leadership skills within interprofessional teams in the management of care in diverse, complex, global and dynamic healthcare systems.
  6. Participate as a nursing professional in the development and implementation of healthcare policy, finance and regulatory entities, including local, state, national and global healthcare trends.
  7. Provide patient-centered care by reflecting on the uniqueness of an individual patient’s background, personal preferences, culture, values, traditions and family which promotes optimal health outcomes by involving patients and families as they make clinical care decisions.
  8. Demonstrate respectful, efficient, safe and well-coordinated transitions of the patient through all levels of care.
  9. Provide respectful, efficient, safe and well-coordinated patient-centered care to populations by reflecting on beliefs, values, attitudes and practices.
  10. Model professionalism with consistent demonstration of core values evidenced by nurses working with others to achieve optimal health and wellness outcomes in patients, families and populations by wisely applying principles of altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, professional engagement, lifelong learning and accountability.
  11. Encourage evidence-based health promotion and make a positive contribution to immediate and long-term health status, through the provision of education to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations that encourages healthy behaviors and choices, prevention of disease, protection from preventable illness and disastrous emergencies.
Student working in the Clinical Simulation Center

What Can You Do With a BSN Degree?

Most BSN students go on to grad school; that is the primary goal of the program. Of course, you may also choose to follow a different path within the medical field.

Nursing Careers

UW Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing graduates go on to varied careers working as:

  • Registered nurse*
  • Writer
  • Health coach
  • Researcher
  • Nurse Informaticist
  • Nurse marketing consultant

Some other opportunities that a BSN degree may prepare you for either alone or combined with appropriate certification are:

  • Legal Nurse Consultant
  • Nurse Case Manager
  • Home Health Nurse
  • School Nurse
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Forensic Nurse
  • Critical Care nurse
  • Medical/Surgical Nurse
  • Emergency Department Nurse
  • Oncology Nurse

*The Basic BSN degree program includes a licensure component. Upon acceptance and completion of the BSN program, students are eligible to apply for the Registered Nurse (RN) licensure examination.

 

Students in Clinical Simulation Center together

 

 

 

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Basic BSN Program Highlights

Our nursing program is tight-knit. Students build new friendships with their colleagues as they move through their studies and prepare for rewarding careers in the medical world. Here are just a few highlights you should know about as you consider joining the Basic BSN program. 

Unique Learning Spaces

Basic BSN students enjoy access to UW's state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Center with the following resources: “low-fidelity” skills lab simulations, “high-fidelity” patient rooms, ICU, exam rooms and other simulation scenarios. Additionally, students engage in clinical learning in local facilities in the Cheyenne and Laramie areas. The senior capstone experience utilizes sites across the state of Wyoming.

Thomas Lab

The Thomas Lab—or Strategies for Risk Reduction Lab—typically offers 2-4 research positions each year to students who are available for 3-9 hours per week. We request applications and complete interviews during the spring semester. Students offered research positions are required to enroll for Independent Study (1-3 credits). Broadly, projects investigate psychosocial and cultural influences as well as individual perceptions related to health behavior.

Networking & Student Groups

The small cohort model of our program encourages student collaboration and bonding. You'll have countless chances to network with classmates, professors and health professionals as you define your career goals.

Financial Assistance

In addition to UW's many scholarship opportunities offered to students, the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing also offers a handful of scholarships to nursing students.

The clinical experience and capstone were my favorite parts of the program. I felt like I was able to put what we learned into practice. The preceptors at the hospital were incredible!

- BSN Graduate

Related Programs

Are our other nursing programs of interest to you? Take a look:

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Basic BSN

Phone: (307) 766-4292

Email: BasicBSN@uwyo.edu


Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing

Dept. 3065 | 1000 E. University Avenue

Phone: (307) 766-4312

Fax: (307) 766-4294

Email: uwnursing@uwyo.edu